So last week Elder Miles was pretty much in the dog house for sending such a short email. I now realize why it was so short....I was VERY surprised when in Sacrament meeting today my oldest daughter & a sister to another missionary in our ward were called up to the stand. They each we're able to read a special letter about their mothers that had been written by their own missionary brothers. The following is Elder Miles' letter...
There really is no way that I could express how grateful I am to have a mother that loves me. This letter is probably the absolute least I could do to express that. My mom has taught me a lot of things in my life time. And I'm pretty sure I made it really difficult for her. So there is one of the bigger things that she taught me. Patience. That is one of the greatest attributes of my mom.
Romans 5:3-5
3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
And what we learn from this scripture is that patience leads to "hope." In the 13th Article of Faith it says, "We believe all things, we HOPE all things, we have endured many things, and HOPE to be able to endure all things." This is what my mom has taught me. That no matter through what trial she's had, that if she turned to the Lord and had hope, she could become stronger.
Ether 12:27-28
27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.
28 Behold, I will show unto the Gentiles their weakness, and I will show unto them that faith, hope and charity bringeth unto me—the fountain of all righteousness.
In the world's eyes I am not perfect. I have trials, I make mistakes. But one thing I do know, is that in my Heavenly Father's eyes, I am coming closer to perfect. Now I won't ever, in this life, reach perfection. But because of my mom and the things I have learned from her, we have grown closer. My family and I have grown closer. And most importantly, my Heavenly Father and I have grown closer.
There is a story that I would like to share in the Book of Mormon. It's one of my favorite stories. Its the 2000 stripling warriors. Now even though the artists that paint all of the Book of Mormon stories make these guys look like they are huge 200 lb meat heads, I don't think they were like that. They were just regular young men. They had weaknesses. But one thing that we learn from the Book of Mormon is that they honored their mothers. They had been taught to rely on the Lord.
Alma 56:47-48
47 Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them.
48 And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it.
They had been taught that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them. Every single one of them were wounded. Just like every single one of us makes mistakes. We are all wounded in some way in this life. Because of my mom and what she has taught me, that if I have hope in God, if I rely on him, he will deliver me. He will give me the strength I need to return back to him.
I love my mom. I am grateful for her example that she has set for me. And all of the blessings I've had because of her faithfulness and obedience.
And I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
